Back to School

     It's a long story but I'll try to make it shorter.


     I never thought I would homeschool my children. I had the two boys and they went to preschool, kindergarten and all that. I was The Oldest's biggest advocate for services and try to find some answers for so many things that just didn't 'feel right'. Then, 4th grade hit (sink or swim year, I claim), he got more and more miserable. The school did nothing to protect him from a bully IN. HIS. CLASS. and he, in the end, was suicidal at age 9.

Oh yes, I'm pretty sure I can do better than that so I chose to homeschool. And if I was going to homeschool one, let's have them all stay home. At that time, Puppy Feet had just finished Kindergarten and Lil Lady was only, well, little.

It was a huge journey. Where to begin? What style to use? How do we make this work? What support systems can we find? How can we make a wintry holiday season of this stuck at home? All of that and much, much more. We found a grove and, most days, it was neat. Kind of a lack luster word, I know but it was. Watching my kids learn, right from the start, seeing concepts click, sharing wonderful experiences with friends.. honestly, motherhood doesn't get better than that.

The Oldest still had his struggles. In the 4 1/2 years he was home he was diagnosed with so many things. Medically and emotionally. The poor guy can't catch a break. Really. But having him home, knowing him so closely and *not* giving him up for 6+ hours a day to someone else helped. Sure, we butted heads. That's not ever going to change, we're too much alike but seeing him soften and getting hugs from him when I'd lost him by 4th grade.. Well, I'm sure you can understand.

Puppy Feet-- what can't I tell you about this boy. He was the "Baby who stayed" after 2 miscarriages and I didn't put him down for a year, I tell you. My slice of sanity when there was none left. My playful little crazy guy that can always make me smile. I get to keep him?! He can stay home and I can enjoy him MYSELF? It was terrific. Letting him learn things on his *own* timetable, when he was ready and when it was so easy for him.. what a gift to give him.

Yet now, going back to school at 11 years old when he never really did before is a little daunting. For both him and me. It didn't matter than he didn't learn to tie his shoes until his sister almost learned before him. But schools don't understand that. So now, he's a bit behind, jumping to catch up and the schools think we sat around and drooled on ourselves for 5 years. Ask me how hard *that* pill was to swallow. They'll see. They'll see that Puppy Feet is brilliant socially. People *want* to be around him, *want* to please him and *want* to be his friend. No, just because we homeschooled doesn't mean he needs afterschool care to 'socialize', thanks anyway. And, let them see how my wonderful boy is ready and will snap up all that information they have for him and show all doubters (family and 'friends' included) that being homeschooled didn't hold him back but RAISED. HIM. UP. You show them, R!

And my Lil Lady. My Little Princess who isn't so much a princess anymore. (not with tutus and crowns anyway but still the expectations of one!) What does she think of all this? At 7, she really didn't 'miss much' school by entering now. Is she happy that she gets to go to school and not have the stigma my second son has? Or does she look at how brilliantly my oldest has done and say "I can do that too!"? I don't get the chance to guide her like I did with Puppy Feet when it comes to catty girls or exclusive groups or learning too much about adult things too young. I had a chance to stop all that with The Oldest and it never started with Puppy Feet. What happens to her?

So all in all, I'll miss the wonderful opportunities I had to learn with my children. Seeing a hermit crab change shells one day with them was outstanding! Moments like that are too many to number. But I am trying to keep my chin up. The Oldest has done fantastic. I know the choice with him was right and it was easier but he's in high school now.  I need to have faith that the foundation I've laid with my two younger will always remain. Even when they are out of the home 6 hours a day.

I keep trying to tell myself that anyway. I miss you two already. <3

Great new book on learning the states!

I'm not one for blogging much about educational tools. Not my bag, Bay-bee. But I have an exception to that rule!

I was walking out of the children's room in our local library and saw this on the new book shelf and grabbed it. We like to read at breakfast time so I took this book out yesterday to share with the kids and WOW! What an amazing find! I may just learn my US geography yet!

It's a really cute idea. The author bases the country on this one man in the map and goes from there. It's a great idea for those who are visual learners-- I'll tell ya! MinIow MisArkLou (the man in the map, of course) is in the center and he has a flashlight, a table with food on it, a chair to sit in, etc. All these items make up the rest of the United States. It's fun and cute and SO much less boring than the standard way!

So if you are looking to mix it up a bit, this is a great book to get your hands on.

I love the Fall

I love fall. It's the best season of the year. There's no place like New England in the fall. Crisp air and apples--ripe for the picking.

We got together with a bunch of homeschool families and went apple picking. Below are some of the kids after the apple picking and before the cider donuts--- YUM!

Of course, my girl and her Godsister in matching shirts "Chillin' with my Gnomies"-made by me!

Today was spent outside, sweatshirts on, climbing through Purgatory Chasm. It's a local wonder-- a rock formation probably from the moving of glaciers 14,000 years ago.

It was so nice that my oldest came, climbed, laughed with friends.

My middle guy really enjoyed it too. His favorite part was all the little caves!

My girlie. Telling us where to go. She didn't want to leave!Even the husband came for this one!

Ok, one pic of me.We went to Purgatory Chasm one time. LONG ago when my oldest was the only child we had! We will definately be going back soon.

Wonderful Day!

~white ash tree~

A friend of ours organized a trip to a local spot, Capen Hill. It's a sanctuary off a busy highway. A quiet spot amidst noise and traffic. Just a lovely place to visit.

There were guided tours organized and the group was split into two- olders and youngers. It was a great time to connect with nature and get a little bit of an education, all in one! My camera battery was dead but thank you to Karen for letting me use these pics!

~ Lil Lady- Grouchified~


~not the salamanders we scooped but just like them~

~the frog Lil Lady spied!~

~the example of taxidermy and a wonderful lunch spot~

~that's me with Lil Lady looking at a find on the table (white hat, white shirt) ~

The Delights of Homeschooling

Ok ok, that *is* pretty mushy and, frankly, not always true (such as now when I can hear children arguing over something arbitrary) but there are those days when I relish being a Homeschooling Mom over anything else I've ever done.

Here are some great pictures to share where Lil Lady and Puppy Feet are out in my garden (unstarted) digging out "woh-ms". Lil Lady hasn't mastered the 'r' sound yet and she sounds quite Long Island-ish!

And, to add another funny note, Lil Lady woke up the next day reporting that she had a dream about worms and she *was* a worm and she was the biggest worm! About two feet long! "It was fun!"

Please take note to where the Princess is situated and where her servant is....

Enjoy!

Creativity

We needed some craft items for our homeschool preschool group. These little foam pieces were perfect for what we needed.

I sometimes forget how much Lil Lady likes to use craft-y things! We used to run a playgroup but, due to time conflicts, have taken time off. When I was facilitating, we'd actually do two back to back playgroups. Lil Lady would *love* the chance to do the craft twice.

The kids have been roughhousing and fighting pretty much non-stop lately, whenever we are home. Sometimes, rediscovering creative habits are just what you need when Spring Fever is hitting in a bad way and cold rainy days just don't help matters.

Tuesday Events

What a day!! We didn't have homeschool coop group today but we booked ourselves solid!

We started out at Tower Hill Botanical Gardens at a "Let Worms Eat Your Garbage" class. I forgot my camera all day today and I'm so bummed about it! The three kids all made a mini-compost heap for our home in large cool whip containers. It started out with a 'bed' of ripped damp newspaper and a spoonful of soil. Then, the instructor added the worms! Puppy Feet has already put in an apple core (not a big shock, the kid must eat 3 a day). I donated coffee grounds to the cause and part of an avocado peel. VERY neat, to say the least.

Then my sister came by with my nephew. The kids always love seeing him and he was such a little charmer. I made sure I saved her a piece of pumpkin cake (beyond yummy) that I made from the same recipe for her birthday and we, of course, ran by Duffy's for a quick baby food run. They didn't have any (always hit or miss at Duffy's) but there were other finds to be had!

To top off the day, tonight we went to the Worcester Public Library to see The Dragon King by Tanglewood Marionettes. I've never seen such a well performed show! The sets were magnificent, the puppets and puppeteers did a bang up job, and the surprises and extras were the topping on the cake! If you ever have the chance to see them, GO! I wouldn't miss a performance by them even if it wasn't free (like this time)!

Not bad for a Tuesday, I'd say :-)

Homeschool Days

After a particularly fun day at homeschooling coop group, a bunch of us toodled off to Old Sturbridge Village for Homeschooling Days. The boys were signed up for cooking and woodworking and Lil Lady was just tagging along. Firstly, it was COLD. You can't see from these pictures but there were icicles EVERYWHERE, even along this stream. What a view...

Before the scheduled classes, you could attend a storytime of favorite tales regarding George Washington! We meandered our way over there. First, we all had to stop at the mills and check out the amazing icicle structures. And boy, were there many! We got to the right building in due time but we had to leave early because of our class :-( Disappointing. However, the boys both had *great* products. "Puppy Feet", as my husband likes to call him, put together a DELICIOUS spice cake for Washington's birthday- that was cooked in an 'oven' by the fire! And my oldest made a 'dibble'. In case you didn't know (I sure didn't!), it's a tool used for planting seeds or young seedlings.

It was a nice time. I was glad Daddy was there because Lil Lady was a fadin' fast between the cold, the tired feet, and the long day we'd already had. He stayed back with her while we did the majority of our walking. Looks like he caught a pretty cute picture of the four of us.. see below..

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